Missile Defense AgencyIn this image provided by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, an interceptor missile is launched from the Aegis Weapon System-equipped Japanese Naval Destroyer JS Kirishima in a joint missile defense intercept test with the MDA in the mid-Pacific earlier this year. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have submitted proposals for MDA contracts for the concept and definition of the Next-Generation Aegis Missile.

The agency is expected to award multiple NGAM contracts, reportedly worth about $45 million each, for the 32-month concept definition and program planning phase, which begins in 2011. Deployment is scheduled for the 2020 time frame.

In August, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Holly, vice president of Missile Defense Systems at Lockheed Space Systems in Huntsville, said the new, longer-range interceptor will be designed to destroy an enemy missile in the post-boost and pre-apogee phase of flight - after launch into space and before it noses back toward Earth - providing a new capability to the Aegis system.

According to Lockheed, maker of the ship-based Aegis Weapon System, there are 25 Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense equipped warships - 21 in the U.S. Navy and four in the Japanese - with the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tracking missions. Twelve additional ships have been identified for modification to perform BMD capabilities by 2014.

"Lockheed Martin is committed to working in partnership with the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy to support the Next-Generation Aegis Missile program," said Doug Graham, vice president of advanced programs, Strategic and Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Our offer draws upon capabilities across our corporation to define a concept and program plan that provides a best-value solution for this critical addition to our nation's overall missile defense capabilities."

A land-based version of Aegis is a key part of the Obama administration's "Phased Adaptive Approach" to missile defense in Europe, where Romania and Poland have already agreed to host elements of the system. The ultimate contract to produce future versions of the Aegis interceptor missile could be worth billions.

The current Aegis BMD system uses the Standard Missile 3 built by Raytheon. Earlier this year, Raytheon announced it will build a plant on Redstone Arsenal for final integration and testing of the SM-3 and SM-6 missiles and their variants.

Boeing said it has established a program office for NGAM operations in Huntsville and is ready to begin developing this advanced defense capability.

"We are proud to submit our bid for this important project, which represents the future of regional missile defense," said Greg Hyslop, vice president, Boeing Strategic Missile & Defense Systems. "Our team is uniquely qualified to lead in the development of NGAM - a capability that will be critical to the United States and its allies in meeting future potential threats."

Northrop Grumman said it is highlighting its deep experience on early intercept of ballistic missile threats in this competition.

"We will apply our team's complete set of tools, techniques, trade studies, lessons learned and investments to help MDA achieve its vision for the phased adaptive approach to missile defense," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and general manager, Strike and Surveillance Systems Division for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "We also bring to bear our corporate expertise and capability in Aegis shipbuilding and naval systems to ensure a smooth land-to-sea transition."